Golf putting practice devices

ABSTRACT

A golf putting practice device embodying a kicker for returning a ball to a person making a putt into the device, and wherein the kicker may be freely slid into and out of the device with a straight-line motion between supporting members disposed at the opposite ends thereof which are effective to prevent turning of the kicker around its longitudinal axis, the kicker having an elongated abutment with parallel sides, with the abutment slidably mounted in an elongated slot in one supporting member and having the parallel sides disposed in abutting engagement with the longitudinal sides of the slot, and other of the supporting members being spaced from the one supporting member and from each other to receive and restrain the other end of the kicker therebetween.

United States Patent [1 1 Brandell 5] May 14, 1974 GOLF PUTTING PRACTICE DEVICES Primary ExamirierGeorge J. Marlo [75] Inventor: John R. Brandell, Glenview, Ill. Attorney Agent or EMF-Root & OKeeffe [73] Assignee: Brandell Products Corporation, [57] ABSTRACT Rosemont A golf putting practice device embodying a kicker for [22] Filed; May 30 1972 returning a ball to a person making a putt into the device, and wherein the kicker may be freely slid into [2]] Appl' 257,849 and out of the device with a straight-line motion between supporting members disposed at the opposite 52 11.5. CI 273/179 A ends thereof which are effective to prevent turning of 511 rm, c1 A63!) 57/00 the kicker around its longitudinal axis, the kicker 5 1 Field of Search u 273 79 3 125 A, 30 ing an elongated abutment with parallel sides, with the 273/127 abutment slidably mounted in an elongated slot in one supporting member and having the parallel sides dis- 56 References Cited posed in abutting engagement with the longitudinal UNITED STATES PATENTS sides of the slot, and other of the supporting members being spaced from the one supporting member and 2622?? 5:32: 3:22;? 2 from each other to receive and restrain the other end 9/1969 Scholin et al. 273/179 A ofthe k'cker therebetween' 4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEU m 14 m4 SHED 2 BF 3 GOLF PUTTING PRACTICE DEVICES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to golf putting practice devices, and, more particularly, to golf putting practice devices of the type embodying mechanism for kickingv a ball back to a person making a putt thereinto.

It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novel golf putting practice device.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel golf putting practice device which embodies a novel kicker constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner in the device for returning a ball to a person making a putt into the device.

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel golf putting practice device embodying a novel kicker which is mounted in and supported by the device in a novel and expeditious manner.

A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel-golf putting practice device of the aforementioned type wherein the kicker may be quickly and easily inserted into and removed from the device.

Golf putting practice devices embodying kickers mounted therein, and wherein the kickers are removable from the device, have been heretofore known in the art, such as, for example, as shown in my US. Letters Patent Nos. 2,709,594, 3,003,769, 3,134,597 and 3,265,940. It is an important object of the present in vention to afford novel improvements over the golf putting practice devices heretofore known in the art.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel golf putting practice device which is practical and efficient in construction and operation, and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front perspective view of a golf putting practice device embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, with certain parts omitted to show underlying parts, taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the rear portion of the base shown in FIG. 3, with the bottom wall removed;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG. '4, showing a partially assembled kicker unit in partially assembled relation to the base;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the kicker unit assembled and disposed in more nearly fully assembled position in the base;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the solenoid portion of the kicker unit shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view ofthe solenoid unit shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view ofa portion of the base portion shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view, similar to FIG. 9, but showing a modified form of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is another fragmentary perspective view, similar to FIG. 9, but showing another modified form of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS SHOWN HEREIN A golf putting practice device 1, embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, inclusive, of the drawings to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The golf putting practice device 1 is of the same general type as those shown in my aforementioned U.S. Letters Pat. Nos. 2,709,594, 3,003,769, 3,134,597 and 3,265,940, and embodies, in general, a base 2, into which a golf ball, such as the ball B shown in FIG. 2, may be putted, with a kicker unit 3 disposed in operative position in the base 2 for returning the ball therefrom to the person putting the same.

As in the golf putting practice device shown in'my aforementioned patents, the base 2 includes a floor 4, surrounded at its rear and lateral sides by an upstanding wall 5, the wall 5 terminating at its front ends 6 and 7 in unipla'nar relation to the front edge 8 of the floor 4, FIG. 1.

The floor 4 embodies a front ramp 9, which slopes upwardly and rearwardly from the front edge8 of the floor 4, and a rear ramp 10 which slopes downwardly and rearwardly from the rear edge 11 of the front ramp 9. A ball receiving station 12, which includes a c0ncave-forwardly recess 13 in the wall 5 is disposed in the base 2 at the rear edge portion of the floor 4.

In the use of the device 1, a ball may be putted from the front thereof upwardly across the front ramp 9 and downwardly across the rear ramp 10 of the floor 4 into the ball receiving station 12, from which position it may be ejected forwardly from the device I by the kicker 3.

The kicker unit 3 embodies a solenoid 14, which includes a wire coil or winding 15 mounted on a supporting form 16, FIGS. 2, 7 and 8. The supporting form 16 preferably is made of molded nylon or molded polystyrene, or other suitable moldable material, and embodies a central sleeve 17 extending between two end walls 18 and 19, FIG. 2.

The kicker unit 3 also embodies an armature comprising an elongated rod 20 of suitable magnetic material, such as, for example, steel, slidably mounted in the sleeve I7 with a relatively snug, but freely slidable fit. The sleeve 17 affords a channel 21 through which the armature 20 may move longitudinally between a retracted position, such as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, and a fully forwardly extended position, such as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. The armature 20 has an outwardly projecting flange or collar 22 on the rear end portion thereof, and a resilient member, in the form of a compression coil spring 23 is disposed-on the armature 20 between the rear wall 19 of the supporting form 16, and the collar 22 for yieldingly urging the armature 20 toward retracted position.

An abutment member 24, FIG. 2, is mounted in the base 2 in position to engage the armature 20 in its fully retracted position, and thus limit retraction thereof. The abutment member 24 shown herein is similar to the abutment members shown in my aforementioned patents, comprising the downwardly projecting rear end portion of an elongated slide member 25, preferably made of a non-magnetic material such as brass, slidably mounted in a guideway 26 afforded by two elongated ribs 27 and 28, projecting downwardly from the top wall 29 of the housing 30 embodied in the base 2, rearwardly of the wall 5, FIG. 4. The ribs 27 and 28 are disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other, and extend rearwardly from the wall along the longitudinal center line of the top wall 29 of the housing 30.

An elongated slot 31 is formed in the top wall 29 of the housing 30, between, and in parallel relation to the ribs 26 and 27. A clamping stem 32 extends through the slot 31 and is threadedly engaged in the slide 25, for moving the slide 25 to any position of adjustment along the slot 31, the stem 32 having a manually operable clamping knob 33 disposed on the I outer end thereof for clampingly engaging the wall 29 of the housing 31 and holding the slide 25 in adjusted position. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the adjustable abutment 24 is shown herein merely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, and other means for limiting retraction of the armature 20, including stationary portions of the housing of a golf putting practice device may be afforded without departing from the purview of the present invention.

The supporting form 16 of the solenoid l4 embodies a collar 34 projecting outwardly from the rear end wall 19 thereof in surrounding relation to the channel 21, FIG. 7. The collar 34 is of larger diameter than the sleeve 17 and is disposed in axial alignment therewith. It affords a housing for receiving the front end of the coil spring 23, and also affords an abutment for engaging the flange 22 on'the armature when the latter is disposed in full forward position, to thereby limit movement of the armature 20 forwardly through-the channel 21. Reinforcing ribs 35, FIG. 7, preferably project outwardly from the collar 34 to strengthen and stiffen the wall 19 of the supporting form 16.

At its other end, the supporting form 16 of the solenoid 14 has an elongated abutment member 36, projecting outwardly from the front wall 18 in surrounding relation to the channel 21, FIG. 8. The abutment member 36 has a rounded upper end portion 37, which, preferably is substantially semi-circular in shape, anda substantially rectangular-shaped body portion 38projecting downwardly from the channel 21 to the lower edge 39 of the wall 18. The longitudinal side edges 40 and 41 of the body portion 38 of the abutment member 36 preferably are disposed in substantially straight,

parallel relation to each other.

end in a substantially semi-circular shaped end portion 44 which is complementary in shape to the upper end portion 37 of the abutment member 36, FIGS. 1 and 9.

The abutment member 36 is so disposed on the supporting form 16, and the slot 42 is so disposed in the wall 5, that when the solenoid I4 is disposed in operative position in the base 2, the abutment member 36 is disposed in the slot 42 with a relative snug, but freely slidable fit, with the upper end portion 37 disposed in abutting engagement with the upper end portion 44 of the slot 42, and with the upper edges 45 and 46 of the walls 18 and 19, respectively, resting against the lower edges of the ribs 27 and 28 in the base 22.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-9 of the drawings, the ribs 27 and 28 have an abutment 47, FIGS. 2, 4 and 9 thereon for engaging the rear wall 19 of the supporting form 16 of-the solenoid 14 when the latter is disposed in operative position in the base 2. The abutment 47 includes two ears 48 and 49, projecting downwardly from the lower edges of the ribs 27 and 28, respectively, in parallel relation to each other, and two substantially L-shaped wings 5,0 and 51 projecting laterally outwardly from the outer sides of the ribs 27 and 28, respectively, FIGS. 4 and 9. The ears 50 and 51 have two side wall portions 52 and 53, respectively, which are disposed forwardly of the cars 48 and 49 and project downwardly below the lower edges of the ribs 27 and 28. The front faces 54 and 55 ,of the ears 48 and 49, respectively, slope downwardly and rearwardly from the respective ribs 27 and 28 for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The abutment 47 preferably is so disposed on the ribs 27 and 28 that when the kicker unit 3 is disposed in operative position in the base 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper edges 45' and 46 of the supportingform 16 rest on the lower edges of the ribs 27 and 28 with the forwardmost portion of the faces 54 and 55 of ears 48 and 49 disposed in abutting engagement with the rear face of the rear wall 19 of the supporting form 16, and with the inner faces of the side wall portions 52 and 53 of the abutment 47 engaged with the lateral edges 57 and 58 of the supporting form 16, respectively, with a snug, but freely slidable fit.

It will be seen that with this construction, in the assembly 0f the golf putting practice device 1, the kicker unit 3 may be inserted vertically into the base 2 along a path of movement wherein the abutment member 36 moves vertically along the slot 42, in axial alignment therewith, and the rear wall 19 of the supporting form 16 moves vertically into direct engagement with the lower edges of the ribs 27 and 28 forwardly of the ears 48 and 49 of the abutment 47, the armature 20 being manually held in partially forwardly disposed position, as shown in FIG. 6, during such insertion of the kicker unit 3 into the base 2. However, in addition, with the device I constructed in the manner disclosed herein, if the person assembling the same should insert the kicker unit 3 into the base 2 at an angle, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the faces 54 and 55 on the ears 48 and 49 are effective to engage the upper edge 46 of the wall 19, as illustrated in FIG. 6, so that further movement of the solenoid 14 is effective to cam the solenoid 14 forwardly into position wherein it is in proper operative position between the abutment 47 and the wall 5, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the assembled golf putting practice device 1, a bottom wall 59, FIG. 2, is mounted in underlying relation to the housing portion 30 of the base 2 in position to close the bottom thereof, and to abuttingly engage the lower edges 39 and 60 of the walls 18 and 19, respectively, on the supporting form 16 of the solenoid 14. The bottom wall 59 may be releasably secured to the base 2, by any suitable means, such as, for example, screws or bolts 61, FIG. 2, inserted through the wall 59, and threaded into suitable portions of the base 2, such as the embossments 62 shown in FIG. 4.

In the assembled device 1, of course, the ends 63 and 64 of the coil of the solenoid 14 are connected, in series, through a suitable switch, such as the switch 65 shown in FIG. 4, to lead-in wires, such as the wires 66 and 67, shown in FIG. 3, which may be connected to a suitable source of electric power, not shown. An actuator 68, FIG. 4, for the switch 65 is disposed in such position at the ball-receiving station 12 that when a ball is received in operative position therein, as illustrated by the ball B, shown in FIG. 2, the ball is effective to close the switch 65 and thereby energize the solenoid 14 and cause the kicker 3 to eject the ball from the device l, by causing the armature to move forwardly through the channel 21 into ball engaging position.

It will be seen that with this construction of the golf putting practice device I, the kicker 3 may be quickly and easily mounted in the base 2 during assembly of the device I, by moving it directly vertically into the proper operative position. I

Also, it will be seen that with the device constructed in the manner shown herein, the abutment 47 affords an effective guide for moving the kicker 3 into the proper operative position in the base 2 even through the kicker 3 is not moved exactly along the aforementioned vertical line.

In addition, it will be seen that with the device 1 constructed in the aforementioned manner, the kicker 3, in the assemble device 1, is effectively held both at its front and rear ends against movement in all diretions, the wall 5 and the ears 48 and 49 of the abutment 47 holding it against forward and rearward movement; the engagement of the sides 40 and 41 of the abutment 36 with the adjacent sides of the slot 42 in the wall 5, and the engagement of the side walls 52 and 53 of the abutment 47 with the side edges 57 and 58, respectively, of the rear wall 19 of the supporting form 16 holding it against lateral movement in a sideways direction; and the engagement of the ribs 27 and 28 with the upper edges 45 and 46 of the walls 18 and 19, and the engagement of the bottom wall 59 with the lower edges 39 and 60 of the walls 18 and 19 holding the kicker 3 against vertical movement within the base 2.

In FIG. I0, which is similar to FIG. 9, a modified form of the present invention is shown, and parts which are the same as parts shown in FIGS. 1-9 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and parts which are similar to parts shown in FIGS. 1-9, but which have been substituted therefor, are indicated by the same reference numerals with the suffix a added.

In the modified form of the golf putting practice device la shown in FIG. 10, the ribs 27a and 28a terminate at their front ends in rearwardly spaced relation to the wall 5, and an elongated supporting member 69 extends horizontally therebetween and projects horizontally from the front ends and 71 of the ribs 27a and 28a in upwardly spaced relation to the lower edges of the latter. The front ends 70 and 7-1 of the ribs 27a and 28a terminate at their lower end portions in faces 54a and 55a, respectively, which slope downwardly and rearwardly from the supporting member 69.

In assembling the device In, the kicker unit 3 may be inserted into the base 2a in the same manner as heretofore described with respect to the assembling of the kicker unit 3 into the base 2, except that in the assembled device, the upper edge 46 of the rear wall 19 of the supporting form 16 is disposed in abutting engagement with the supporting member 69, and the upper end 37 of the abutment 36 is disposed in abutting engagement with the end portion 43 of the slot 42, with the upper edge 45 of the front wall 18-of the supporting form 16 disposed in downwardly spaced relation to the'top wall 29 of the base 2a, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 10. Two downwardly projecting side walls 52a and 53a on respective ends of the supporting member 69 are disposed in position to engage the adja cent edges 57 and 58 of the rearwall 19 of the supporting form 16 in-the same manner as heretofore discussed with respect to the side walls 52 and 53 of the abutment 47.

In the device la, the edge portions 54a and 55a of the ribs 27a and 28a operate in the same manner as the front face 54 and 55 of the ears 48 and 49, in assisting in guiding the kicker unit 3 into operative position in the base 2a. It will be seen that in the device la, the kicker unit 3 is held against movement therein in the same manner as the kicker unit 3 is held in the device 1, shown in FIGS. l-9, except that it is held against vertical upward movement by the engagement of the upper edge 46 of the wall 19 with the supporting member 69 and the engagement of the end portion 37 of the abutment 36 with the upper end portion 43 of the slot 42.

In FIG. 11, which also is similar to FIG. 9, another modified form of the present invention is shown, and parts which are the same as parts shown in FIGS. 1-9 are indicated by the same reference numerals and parts which are similar to, but are substituted for parts shown in FIGS. l-9 are indicated by the same reference numerals with the suffix b added thereto.

In the golf putting practice device lb shown in FIG. 11, the ribs 27 and 28, at least at the front portion of the housing 30b are eliminated, and ears 48b and 49b and side wall members 50b and 5112, which are similar to the ears 48 and 49 and the side walls 50 and 51, respectively, shown in FIG. 9, project directly downwardly from the lower face of the top wall 291; of the base 21;.

In the device lb, illustrated in FIG. 11, the upper edges 45 and 46 of the end walls 18 and 19, respectively, of the supporting form 16 rest directly against the lower face of the top wall 29b, rather than against ribs such as the ribs 27 and 28 shown in FIG. 9; and the rear face of the rear wall 19 of the supporting form 16 is abuttingly engaged with the ears 48b and 49b, and the side edges 57 and 58 of the rear wall 19 are abuttingly engaged with the side wall members 50b and 5 lb, respectively. Otherwise, the mounting of the kickerunit 3 in the device 1!) is the same as in the device 1 shown in FIGS. 1-9.

which embodies a novel kicker unit constituted and ar-' ranged in the device in a novel and expeditious manner.

In addition, it will be seen that the present invention enables a kicker unit to be inserted into and removed from a golf putting practice device in a novel-and expeditious manner.

Further, it will be seen thatthe present invention affords a novel golf putting practice device which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Thus. while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

lclaim:

'1. A golf putting practice device comprising a. a base including a top wall, b; another wall 1 l. projecting downwardly from said top wall, and

' "2. defining a portion ofa ball receiving portion in said base,

*cl a kicker mounted in said base for ejecting a ball *fromsaid base when said ball is disposed in opera- -tive position in said ball receiving portion,

d. said other wall having an elongated slot 1. opening through the lower edge thereof,

2. extending upwardly from said lower edge, and 3. terminating at its upper end in a closed upper end,

e. abutment means projecting downwardly from said topwall in spaced relation to each other and to said other wall,

f. said abutment means comprising '1. an abutment member spaced from said other wall, and 2. two other abutment members disposed a. closer to said other wall than said first mentioned abutment member, and b. in spaced relation to said other wall. cv on respective sides of said first mentioned abutment member,

g. said kicker comprising 1. an electrical solenoid having a. two walls disposed at respective opposite ends thereof, and

b. a channel extending therethrough from end to end,

2. an elongated armature a. axially slidable in said channel between retracted'and projected position, and

b. having an enlargement spaced outwardly from one of said end walls,

3. resilient means disposed between said enlargement and said one end wall and yieldingly urging said armature toward retracted position, and

4. an abutment, having oppositely disposed sub stantially parallel elongated sidewalls, projecting outwardly from the outer face of the other of said end walls,

h. said kicker being mounted in operative position between said first mentioned other wall and said abutment means with 1. said abutment disposed in said slot a. in abutting engagement with said closed upper end, and b. with said sidewalls disposed in abutting engagement with respective longitudinal sides of said slot, 2. said one end wall disposed in abutting engagement with all of said abutment members, and 3. said armature disposed in axial alignment with said slot for movement therethrough during movement of said armature between said projected and retracted positions. 2. A golf putting practice device as defined in claim 1, and which includes a. a bottom wall removably mounted on said base in overlying abutting engagement with said end walls for releasably retaining said kicker in said base. 3. A golf putting practice device as defined in claim 2, and in which a. said abutment and said one end wall are disposed in position to be simultaneously slidable along said slot and said abutment means, respectively, for inserting said kicker in said operative position and removing said kicker from said operative position when said bottom wall is removed from said base.

4. A golf putting practice device as defined in claim 3, and in which a. said abutment means has a face 1. facing toward said slot, 2. having a free edge facing toward said bottom wall, 3. sloping from said free edge toward said slot, and

4. abuttingly engaging said one end wall of said kicker. 

1. A golf putting practice device comprising a. a base including a top wall, b. another wall
 1. projecting downwardly from said top wall, and
 2. defining a portion of a ball receiving portion in said base, c. a kicker mounted in said base for ejecting a ball from said base when said ball is disposed in operative position in said ball receiving portion, d. said other wall having an elongated slot
 1. opening through the lower edge thereof,
 2. extending upwardly from said lower edge, and
 3. terminating at its upper end in a closed upper end, e. abutment means projecting downwardly from said top wall in spaced relation to each other and to said other wall, f. said abutment means comprising
 1. an abutment member spaced from said other wall, and
 2. two other abutment members disposed a. closer to said other wall than said first mentioned abutment member, and b. in spaced relation to said other wall c. on respective sides of said first mentioned abutment member, g. said kicker comprising
 1. an electrical solenoid having a''. two walls disposed at respective opposite ends thereof, and b''. a channel extending therethrough from end to end,
 2. an elongated armature a''. axially slidable in said channel between retracted and projected position, and b''. having an enlargement spaced outwardly from one of said end walls,
 3. resilient means disposed between saiD enlargement and said one end wall and yieldingly urging said armature toward retracted position, and
 4. an abutment, having oppositely disposed substantially parallel elongated sidewalls, projecting outwardly from the outer face of the other of said end walls, h. said kicker being mounted in operative position between said first mentioned other wall and said abutment means with
 1. said abutment disposed in said slot a. in abutting engagement with said closed upper end, and b. with said sidewalls disposed in abutting engagement with respective longitudinal sides of said slot,
 2. said one end wall disposed in abutting engagement with all of said abutment members, and
 3. said armature disposed in axial alignment with said slot for movement therethrough during movement of said armature between said projected and retracted positions.
 2. defining a portion of a ball receiving portion in said base, c. a kicker mounted in said base for ejecting a ball from said base when said ball is disposed in operative position in said ball receiving portion, d. said other wall having an elongated slot
 2. extending upwardly from said lower edge, and
 2. said one end wall disposed in abutting engagement with all of said abutment members, and
 2. A golf putting practice device as defined in claim 1, and which includes a. a bottom wall removably mounted on said base in overlying abutting engagement with said end walls for releasably retaining said kicker in said base.
 2. having a free edge facing toward said bottom wall,
 2. two other abutment members disposed a. closer to said other wall than said first mentioned abutment member, and b. in spaced relation to said other wall c. on respective sides of said first mentioned abutment member, g. said kicker comprising
 2. an elongated armature a''. axially slidable in said channel between retracted and projected position, and b''. having an enlargement spaced outwardly from one of said end walls,
 3. resilient means disposed between saiD enlargement and said one end wall and yieldingly urging said armature toward retracted position, and
 3. A golf putting practice device as defined in claim 2, and in which a. said abutment and said one end wall are disposed in position to be simultaneously slidable along said slot and said abutment means, respectively, for inserting said kicker in said operative position and removing said kicker from said operative position when said bottom wall is removed from said base.
 3. sloping from said free edge toward said slot, and
 3. said armature disposed in axial alignment with said slot for movement therethrough during movement of said armature between said projected and retracted positions.
 3. terminating at its upper end in a closed upper end, e. abutment means projecting downwardly from said top wall in spaced relation to each other and to said other wall, f. said abutment means comprising
 4. an abutment, having oppositely disposed substantially parallel elongated sidewalls, projecting outwardly from the outer face of the other of said end walls, h. said kicker being mounted in operative position between said first mentioned other wall and said abutment means with
 4. abuttingly engaging said one end wall of said kicker.
 4. A golf putting practice device as defined in claim 3, and in which a. said abutment means has a face 